valentine's day Chinoiserie, Designers and Table Settings....

Gump's Table

......was the recipe for a perfect party at Gump's last Tuesday night! The event, in support of the 2010 San Francisco Fall Antique Show was hosted by Marta Benson, CEO of Gump's and Suzanne Tucker, Chair of the SFFAS Designer's Circle.

Top San Francisco designers were invited to design Chinoiserie inspired dining tables, and the creativity was flowing! Ann Getty, Douglas Durkin, Andrew Fisher and Jeffrey Weisman, Jay Jeffers, Barbara Scavullo, Suzanne Tucker and Gump's all contributed stunning table displays. I could have spent much more time savoring every detail.

valentine's day Gump's Table

Gump's table captured the flavor of the Orient with their twin pagodas which flanked a gorgeous floral display of roses and artichokes. The lush color palette was gold, black and hot coral pink. I loved the back painted glass table top with silhouettes of the East in pink

valentine's day Gump's Table

The gold tea pots and pretty pink and gold place settings were perfect for a chic afternoon tea party.

Such a gorgeous display....the flowers, the glass decanters in amethyst and teal, the black lacquer trays and bronze hurricane candle holders....I was enchanted.

valentine's day Gump's Table

The creative forces at Ann Getty and Associates put together a beautiful table set under a black pagoda pavilion. Acrylic bamboo chairs, and the fresh color palette of jade and tangerine was perfectly appetizing.

Ann Getty and Associates

Details like gilt fortune cookies, and hand made taffeta ginkgo leaves added that personal touch, and the floral display of citron green orchids was luscious.

Ann Getty and Associates

One of my favorite things about this display as the lantern light fixture above the table...what a fun crowning jewel.

valentine's day Ann Getty and Associates

The next table is by Jay Jeffers, and as expected, was full of fun,fresh ideas.

Jay Jeffers

Jay created a "room" for his table with rice paper panels painted with flowering branches and birds (painted by Shirley Robinson) which he hung from the ceiling with the most beautiful chains I have ever seen.....(Jay, if you are reading, where did you get those chains?!)

Jay Jeffers Table

Jay used a really interesting modern table and beautiful lantern both from Therien Antiques. The rug is from Tai Ping. Jay brought in the custom designed chairs using C. Mariani Antiques.

valentine's day Jay Jeffers Table

The place settings were beautiful in combinations of greens, browns and golds. Jay proved once again that he is the Master of "Sophisticated Fun".

valentine's day Jay Jeffers Table

Douglas Durkin created a table that really evoked the feeling of Fall for me. Since Fall happens to be my favorite season, it is small wonder I was so drawn it it. Warm and luxurious, moody and intimate, this space invites one to linger over brandy late into the night.

valentine's day Douglas Durkin's Table

The table was surrounded by dark wood louvered screens and draped with a pumpkin and misty slate grey silk taffeta table cloth. The terrariums were filled with exotic plants...one of which I think was a Venus Flytrap.

valentine's day Douglas Durkin's Table

The crystal was a translucent black and there was a persimmon crystal dragon stopper in the decanter. Could you imagine a savory meal here on All Hallows Eve?

valentine's day Douglas Durkin's Table

Andrew Fisher and Jeffrey Weisman have long been a design duo I have greatly admired. (I especially am enamoured with their home in Napa!) Their take on the them was so much fun, it would make one want to party all night!

Fisher Weisman Table

Titled "Lunch at Brighton Pavilion" Andrew and Jeffrey pulled out all of the stops. Inspired by their travels to the Orient, the Brighton Pavilion, Doris Duke's Shangri-La in Honolulu, and films like the King and I and Auntie Mame....they kicked up their heels and used a sequined table cloth. Andrew and Jeffrey are known for their fabulous lighting creations, they channeled Tony Duquette when making this fixture. They described the process to me saying that they sculpted each piece of the mini pagodas and cast them in resin, then painted them gold adding little jewels and ivy a la Duquette.

valentine's day Fisher Weisman Table

The colors they used were just as eye catching...Red, Fuchsia, Tangerine and Gold combine in happy profusion, and the gold butterflies seemed to have just arrived to join the party.

valentine's day Jeffrey and Andrew with their table

The red dining chairs are from the Fisher Weisman Bamboo Collection for Michael Taylor Designs. Just another example of all there is to love about Fisher Weisman

Designer, Barbara Scavullo took her cue from the wonderful horses pictured on the Hermes plates in her place settings.

Barbara Scavullo's Table

You can just imagine a military campaign where the officers would reinforce themselves with hearty meals in their exotic tents.

Barbara Scavullo's Table

The lantern, world map, and Ming Horse punctuate the theme, as does the bridle buckle flatware.

valentine's day Barbara Scavullo's Table

The last table, and certainly far from the least, was the stunning table designed by Suzanne Tucker of Tucker Marks and her troop of talented designers. I was bowled over with how utterly beautiful and detailed the space was.

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

Suzanne and crew had a brilliant French gilt and coral chandelier c. 1920 flown in from across the country from Objects Plus, LLC. Carlton Hobbs supplied the gorgeous painted Queen Anne chairs and settee. The dramatic 18th century Coromandel screen is from a private collector, and the 19th century Khotan rug is from Tony Kitz Oriental Carpets.

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

Suzanne is so talented with the details. The square table is skirted in a Scalamandre green tiger stripe fabric with a topper made from one of Suzanne's own fabrics. The edge detail is made to look like a pagoda roof, the corners curving out, with a bell found at C. Mariani Antiques at each point...

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

The coral velvet chair cushion fabric is also from Suzanne's new fabric line. The saffron hued pillow fabric is from Fortuny.

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

This space was truly a grand end to this sumptuous affair and Suzanne was perfectly and beautifully attired to act as hostess.

valentine's day Suzanne Tucker and her Table

It was such a fun evening! I got to see my friends Grant Gibson and Diane Dorrans Saeks, as well as Anh-Minh Le, the editor of the new quarterly shelter magazine Anthology (get your subscriptions now...it's going to be a goody! AND it will be a PRINTED magazine.....I love a magazine I can hold in my hands.)

Gump's is always the most gracious of hosts for events, and this night was no exception. All of the place settings were provided by Gump's, so for more information on any of the beautiful china, silverware and crystal, please do not hesitate to contact them.

And please don't forget to attend the 2010 San Francisco Antique Fair. For more information, click HERE.

valentine's day Veranda! You Have Outdone Yourself!

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All Show House Photos by Peter Vitale

I think most of you have heard about the recent demise of our beloved Domino Magazine this week. The cries were heard far and wide throughout the design blog universe. A good cry and a box of tissues later...my spirits were raised when the latest Veranda Magazine made it's appearance through my mail slot yesterday.

And what an issue it is! Veranda has really stepped up the Designer Show House game with it's third Show House at the Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills. Those involved in making this event happen read like the Who's Who of the Design World: Ann Getty acted as Honorary Chairperson with Nathan Turner and Mary McDonald as Co-Chairs. So for those of you who were not fortunate enough to get to see the Show House in person (like moi), Veranda has provided a stunning feature here with pictures of every room.

Designers include such greats as Waldo Fernandez, Richard Shapiro, David Phoenix and Rose Tarlow, Suzanne Rheinstein, Peter Dunham, Windsor Smith and Kathryn Ireland. These are just a few of the many fabulously prolific designers featured in this Show House.

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Those of you who subscribe to Veranda will want to hold on to this issue for years to come. and for those of you who do not subscribe, I highly recommend picking up this issue.

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I don't want to spoil all of the delicious surprises in store for you in room after room, but I had to show a few to whet your appetite! One of my favorite spaces was the courtyard outside Greystone where the opening Gala was held. Mary McDonald and Nathan Turner orchestrated the transformation using a palette of green and white, and utilizing mid century Barcelona chairs and ottomans as a foil for the English Gothic Revival Manor.

Completed in 1928, Greystone has been seen often in movies like The Witches of Eastwick, The Holiday, and There Will Be Blood. Designed by Gordon Kaufmann for oil tycoon Edward L. Doheney the mansion is the largest family estate ever built in Beverly Hills. For much more information about Greystone and visitation of the grounds, click here.

Here are just a few of the rooms by some of our favorites:

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Family Room by Nathan Turner

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Gentleman's Study by Peter Dunham

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Lady's Bedroom by Mary McDonald

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Master Bedroom by Windsor Smith

This Show House feature is enough in and of itself the buy the issue.

But wait.... Veranda gives us MORE! One of my Design Crushes graces the pages with yet another beautiful design project. Eric Cohler transforms a stately Charleston home with his magic. Just one photo teaser for you! This article is very long and comprehensive with many a gorgeous photo. Thanks Veranda!

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Late 19th-c. console. Painting by Larry Charles. John Saladino Lamps. Photo by Jeff McNamara.

Veranda....you are just too kind. We are also treated to another home, that of Houston based designer Michael Dale. Just another little tease for you:

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The beautiful hall showing Dale's collection of Burmese figures on Mexican pedestals. Photo by Peter Vitale.

I can tell I am going to be spending at least few hours this weekend sitting on my porch in the sun enjoying this issue of Veranda.

What are you going to be doing?